Benue APC crisis: Angry youths picket road to party secretariat

Angry youths of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State have taken over the road leading to the secretariat of the Austin Agada-led faction of the party in Makurdi, the state capital.

The aggrieved youths who are protesting against the continued existence of the factional leadership of the party led by Agada diverted vehicles and motorbikes to the Atiku Abubakar Way and Kasim Ibrahim Road.

Repair work on the damaged portion of the road forced motorists to use one lane of the dual carriage road and further impeded vehicular movement around the secretariat.

The youths were not deterred by the presence of security personnel who were at the entrance of the deserted secretariat. They vowed not to allow any member of the faction access to the secretariat, insisting that the action of the faction was undermining Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Their action was sequel to a State Executive Committee, SEC, meeting called by the Austine Agada-led faction and slated for Thursday at the secretariat.

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Governor Hyacinth Alia, in a statement Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, denied knowledge of the APC SEC meeting and cautioned those calling for the meeting.

While calling off the said meeting, the governor said: “The last time I checked, I am still the APC leader in the state. No APC meeting can be summoned without my knowledge.

“Not just that, as the Chief Security Officer in the state, I should know when a legitimate gathering is supposed to hold.

“Nigeria is not a lawless state and so is Benue State. Those who think they can undermine the authority of the state must know this and know peace.”